Latest news with #Ascot-based
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Snap decision saved livelihoods
Out of a job and in tears in the morning and back at work and running their own company by the afternoon. It has been an emotional journey for some of the victims of a bankrupt Southland caterer Debra Monteith. Alliance Lorneville Plant freezing works caterers Karen Dickson, Nikhil Rane and Sarah Ward had no idea the company they worked for was about to be liquidated in early 2024 until someone else who worked at Lorneville told them they had seen it in the news. Monteith, their former boss, made national news this week when she was convicted and sentenced in the Invercargill District Court for failing to account for PAYE tax of more than $800,000. When her company, Lee 19, was put into liquidation with liabilities of more than $2 million, the trio had been left suddenly unemployed. Long-time caterer Mrs Dickson said they were stumped for a moment, but only briefly. "It was like, what do we do? I was already 62 ..." But they knew how to cater and quickly came to the conclusion there was nothing for it but give it a go themselves. They found out Alliance Lorneville's management was on board if they formed a new company and Karen's Cafe was born more or less the same day, while the dust was still settling around them. In doing so the women secured not only their own jobs, but those of nine other staff too. Ms Rane said that February day when they decided to form their own company had been quite something. "On Thursday morning, we went to work as an employee. Thursday when we came back home, I was an employer." Single mother of four Miss Ward said there were a lot of tears when she first realised she was without a job. Her main worry was how she would pay her bills, she said. But there was not a lot of time to think about it and all three women went straight into "we need to get stuff done mode". "When you have kids, you've got to figure it out. But thankfully Alliance gave us that opportunity and we're still there. "Sometimes you just have to take the risk." Since their snap decision, Karen's Cafe had grown and now also did off-site catering work which helped to keep business thriving during the freezing works' offseason. While they had been paid regularly and on time up until Lee 19 went in to liquidation, the trio, along with Monteith's other staff, had all lost wages, including their final pays and holiday pay. Another unsecured creditor, Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew said the club had been left about $10,000 out of pocket by Monteith, who had been using their Ascot Park Raceway kitchen to operate a business that provided school lunches and catering for the Ascot-based racing clubs. He said the club had parted ways with Monteith before the liquidation as they had already been experiencing issues. Monteith admitted using the PAYE money over three years from 2021 to fund the business's operations, including food costs. The court also heard she personally benefited by more than $300,000 over the same period, although she did not receive a formal salary and that Lee 19 also received over $780,000 in Covid-19 support payments during the same period. Monteith was sentenced to 11 months' home detention. By Toni McDonald
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The woman with HIV who inspired a romance novel
A woman with HIV, who inspired the plot of a romance novel, says "stigma is rife" about the virus. Freya, whose name has been changed to protect her, found out she had HIV in 2006 and said at first it felt like a "death sentence". But this has changed over the years and now she wants to urge people to get tested, as she believes "early diagnosis is key". Freya has shared her story after her friend of 20 years, Ascot-based author Nicola May, released her latest book How Do I Tell You? The book follows the life of 35-year-old Victoria Sharpe, who "gets devastating news that shatters everything she ever wanted for her future". Freya says it took her a while to feel ready for the story to come out, as it includes elements of her journey after diagnosis and the stigma she says she experienced. Remembering when she was tested for the virus, she said: "I thought it best to get fully checked as I was entering into a new relationship and wanted to make sure I was perfectly healthy. "I was so petrified, even the nurses and the doctors, they handled me with thick gloves. I felt originally it was a death sentence." Freya was monitored without having to go on medication and says when she told her friend Ms May, they both cried together. Berkshire-based Ms May says her book is based on a completely fictitious character and there is an emphasis on getting tested early. She explains: "I'm a storyteller by heart, this is a big issue to deal with and I intertwine the romance and story to make it light, but for people to be aware of HIV. "Originally I was going to call the book Hello I'm Victoria, to have HIV down the front of the page, but my publisher thought that might put people off." Freya says the stigma around the virus, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is still "rife". After finding out she had HIV, Freya says talking to her previous and new partners was the "hardest thing", explaining her "self-esteem became non-existent". "I felt very dirty, it only takes one time to get HIV but people will automatically assume you are promiscuous. I had to have some awkward conversations," she says. Talking about the book, Freya says: "It is not my life story but we have lived this journey together as close friends over 20 years and it is a subject that needs to be talked about, the stigma around it is rife, I am anonymous today for that reason." It has been almost 10 years since her diagnosis and Freya says she has come to terms with it and is happy with her partner. She says: "Many years ago, a nurse said to me: 'One day, you will wake up and HIV won't be the first thing you think of'. "I couldn't imagine that day would ever come but he was absolutely right, it did." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Rise in HIV testing for pop-up sexual health van Berkshire podcast shortlisted for award Billboards to end HIV-related stigma go on display The people using their 'power' to tackle HIV stigma
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Woman with HIV inspires Ascot author's romance novel
A woman with HIV, who inspired the plot of a romance novel, says "stigma is rife" about the whose name has been changed to protect her, found out she had HIV in 2006 and said at first it felt like a "death sentence". But this has changed over the years and now she wants to urge people to get tested, as she believes "early diagnosis is key".Freya has shared her story after her friend of 20 years, Ascot-based author Nicola May, released her latest book How Do I Tell You? The book follows the life of 35-year-old Victoria Sharpe, who "gets devastating news that shatters everything she ever wanted for her future".Freya says it took her a while to feel ready for the story to come out, as it includes elements of her journey after diagnosis and the stigma she says she when she was tested for the virus, she said: "I thought it best to get fully checked as I was entering into a new relationship and wanted to make sure I was perfectly healthy."I was so petrified, even the nurses and the doctors, they handled me with thick gloves. I felt originally it was a death sentence."Freya was monitored without having to go on medication and says when she told her friend Ms May, they both cried together. Berkshire-based Ms May says her book is based on a completely fictitious character and there is an emphasis on getting tested early. She explains: "I'm a storyteller by heart, this is a big issue to deal with and I intertwine the romance and story to make it light, but for people to be aware of HIV."Originally I was going to call the book Hello I'm Victoria, to have HIV down the front of the page, but my publisher thought that might put people off."Freya says the stigma around the virus, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is still "rife".After finding out she had HIV, Freya says talking to her previous and new partners was the "hardest thing", explaining her "self-esteem became non-existent"."I felt very dirty, it only takes one time to get HIV but people will automatically assume you are promiscuous. I had to have some awkward conversations," she about the book, Freya says: "It is not my life story but we have lived this journey together as close friends over 20 years and it is a subject that needs to be talked about, the stigma around it is rife, I am anonymous today for that reason."It has been almost 10 years since her diagnosis and Freya says she has come to terms with it and is happy with her says: "Many years ago, a nurse said to me: 'One day, you will wake up and HIV won't be the first thing you think of'."I couldn't imagine that day would ever come but he was absolutely right, it did." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
